With the rise of mobile technology, more and more people are using their phones to purchase tickets for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment through Ticketmaster. But should you use the Ticketmaster app or mobile website when buying tickets on your phone? There are pros and cons to both options that are worth considering.
Ease of Use
One of the biggest factors when deciding between the Ticketmaster app or website is how easy each is to use on a mobile phone. The Ticketmaster app is designed specifically for mobile use, so it offers a streamlined interface that is simple to navigate on a smartphone screen. Key features like event search, ticket listings, seat maps, and checkout are conveniently located and optimized for tapping on a touchscreen. The website, while still functional on mobile, can sometimes feel a bit clunky in comparison when trying to navigate and enter information on a small screen. So the app has an edge when it comes to usability.
Navigation and Layout
The Ticketmaster app places the most important functions on the main screen or just one tap away, making it easy to find what you need quickly. Main navigation options are located on a persistent bar at the bottom of the screen. The website, on the other hand, requires scrolling and clicking through dropdown menus to access key pages. While the website is not impossible to use on mobile, it does require some extra hunting to find certain functions compared to the more streamlined layout of the app.
Entering Information
Entering information like search terms, contact details, and payment info is typically faster and easier on the app versus the mobile website. The app has large buttons and fields optimized for entering information on a touchscreen. The website uses smaller form fields and links that are a bit trickier to accurately tap. Overall, you’ll likely spend less time typing and tapping when entering info in the app.
Checking Out
The checkout process is one of the clunkier parts of the website experience on mobile. Trying to accurately enter payment info and review order details on small text fields can be frustrating. The app provides a larger, dedicated screen for checkout that is smoother and less tedious when buying tickets. Less typing and tapping leads to less chance for errors.
Saving Payment Info
Saving your payment information for future transactions is quicker and easier on the Ticketmaster app versus the website. The app lets you securely store credit card or PayPal information with just a couple taps, then easily access it for future purchases. The website requires navigating through your account profile to add and manage saved payment methods, which is more cumbersome on a phone.
Features
The features available on the Ticketmaster app versus the mobile website is another consideration when deciding which to use on your phone.
Event Discovery
Discovering new events to attend is a bit better integrated into the Ticketmaster app experience. The app homepage highlights upcoming shows and games in your area for easy browsing. There is also a dedicated Discover section with filters to find featured events and recommendations based on your preferences. While the website does have listings of events, they are not showcased as prominently and require more searching compared to the app.
Seat Views
When purchasing tickets, the Ticketmaster app provides interactive virtual seat maps so you can preview view options before buying. You can swipe and zoom on specific sections for a better idea of sightlines. The website on mobile does not offer interactive seat views, only static seating charts. So it’s tougher to gauge available seats on the website from your phone.
Sharing Tickets
If you need to transfer tickets to friends, the Ticketmaster app makes it easy. Just tap on the Share Ticket option and send directly via message, email, AirDrop or other methods. The website requires manually forwarding the ticket delivery email, so sharing via the app is much more convenient, especially on mobile.
Managing Tickets
The Ticketmaster app also provides better tools for managing existing tickets right from your phone. You can easily access all tickets tied to your account, transfer any you need to send to someone else, view order details, or sell tickets when needed. While you can access tickets on the website too, the interface for managing them is not as smooth or user-friendly from a mobile device.
Speed
For those times you need to hop on and quickly purchase tickets before a sellout, speed is crucial. And the Ticketmaster app generally holds the advantage here over the mobile website.
The app tends to load faster and be more responsive when navigating and searching versus the website. Less lag when tapping and switching pages can make a difference when racing against the clock for hot tickets. Checkout and payment is usually quicker on the app as well.
Of course, speed can depend on factors like your network connection and traffic volumes on Ticketmaster’s servers. But under optimal conditions, the pared down interface and streamlined functionality of the app creates a snappier experience versus the website.
Reliability
To use Ticketmaster effectively on your phone, whether through the app or website, both platforms need to be stable and reliable. Crashing or errors while trying to purchase tickets can really damper the experience. So how do the app and website compare when it comes to dependability?
While both platforms are generally reliable, the Ticketmaster app seems to have slightly less technical issues compared to the website in many user reports. The fact the app is built specifically for mobile devices may contribute to its better stability. The website, while functional on phones, may suffer occasional hiccups due to translating a desktop site to mobile.
That being said, both the app and website are solid choices that should work fine in most cases. But if minimizing crashes or glitches is a top priority, customers seem to have better luck with the stability of the app over the mobile site.
Security
Whenever you buy tickets online and enter payment information, security is a valid concern. Does using Ticketmaster on an app versus the website impact safety at all?
The good news is that both the Ticketmaster app and website employ multiple protections to keep your data secure. These include:
- Encrypted connections
- PCI compliance for securely processing payments
- Protection of stored personal information
- Fraud monitoring
From a security standpoint, neither platform appears to have a clear advantage. As long as you use reasonable precautions like avoiding public WiFi for purchases, your information should be safe on both the app and website.
Cost
Are there any cost differences between using the Ticketmaster app vs website on your phone? The short answer is no. Ticket prices are the same regardless of whether you purchase through the app or website. The fees charged by Ticketmaster are also identical.
The only potential cost consideration is if you have a limited mobile data plan. Using the app may consume a tiny bit more data since the pages are graphically richer versus the simpler website pages. But we’re talking a minimal difference in data usage that likely won’t impact most users.
Bottom line – you can feel confident buying tickets through the channel that is most convenient for you without worrying about price. Ticket costs will be the same through both the app and mobile site.
Customer Service
Hopefully everything goes smoothly when purchasing tickets. But issues can pop up occasionally that require contacting customer support. Does using the Ticketmaster app versus the website impact your customer service experience?
Ticketmaster provides customer support channels like phone, email, and live chat that are accessible whether you used the app or website. So you have the same options for getting assistance no matter what. During the ticket purchasing process itself, the app and website also have similar self-help FAQs to resolve common issues.
One advantage of the app is that it offers an easy way to immediately contact support right within the app via live chat or message. On the website, you need to navigate to the separate help pages to find contact options. So the app does provide quicker access to support when needed.
Conclusion
While both the Ticketmaster app and mobile website allow you to conveniently purchase tickets from your phone, the app has some clear advantages that make it the better choice in most cases:
- More streamlined and user-friendly interface
- Smoother navigation and checkout
- Better features like interactive seat maps
- Faster performance
- Enhanced reliability
- Quick access to customer support
The website is still usable on mobile, but requires some extra hunting and tapping that can be frustrating. Given the app’s optimization for mobile ticket buying, it comes out ahead for ease of use, speed, and features.
The only cases where the website may be preferable are if you have trouble downloading apps or lack storage space on your phone. But for most users who want the best mobile Ticketmaster experience, the app is the way to go.